Patent GB-1287455-A (GB)
Title: Photographic flashlight device
Inventor: HARVEY DONALD MALCOLM
IPC: G03B15/04
Filed: 1969-10-14
Abstract: 1287455 Photographic apparatus EASTMAN KODAK CO 14 Oct 1969 [14 Oct 1968 (2)] 50433/69 Heading G2A A photographic flash-light device, e.g. a camera 21, for receiving a percussion ignitable flash-lamp unit 24 having at least one lamp, has sensing means engageable with a deformable or displaceable element of an inserted unit to give an indication as to whether or not the lamp 25 associated with the element has been fired. The term deformable or displaceable element refers to the lamp primer 26 where the striker 35 forms part of the flash-light device, and to the primer and/or striker where the striker forms part of the flash-lamp unit. As shown Fig.2, an exposure is made by depressing a body release lever, thereby moving an arm 41 thereof downwards so as to allow a sensing lever 37 to pivot under spring action. If the lamp 25 in the firing position has not been fired, the lever 37 is prevented from following the arm 41 all the way down by virtue of end 39 engaging the primer 26. If the lamp 25 has been fired, the lever 37 can follow the arm 41, as the primer 26 of the fired lamp will be deformed out of the path of movement of the end 39. This means that a flag 45 carried by the lever 37 will appear in a viewfinder 22 so the operator ceases to make an exposure and advances the unit 24 manually before trying again. Alternatively Fig.4 (not shown), the sensing lever (50) can close a circuit to switch on a lamp (56) if a used lamp 25 is in the firing position. The percussive lamp (25) Fig.5 (not shown) may be used to close a switch to a lamp (63) when it has an undeformed primer (26). Alternatively, the flag may be used to signal the presence of an unused lamp. In another embodiment Fig. 7, for a unit having integral strikers 114, the sensing means is interconnected with the shutter release means. Depression of the shutter release lever 120 pivots a crank 180 anti-clockwise (as seen) to lift an end 186 thereof off a pad 165 of a sensing and actuating arm 161 which in turn forms part of a lever 160 also having a control and signal arm 162. This allows a spring 170 to rotate the lever 160 clockwise, thus moving a finger 163 through an opening 115 into the flash unit. If the lamp in the firing position is unused, the finger 163 will be stopped by the striker 114 until further depression of the shutter release lever 120 frees shutter driver 130, an extension 138 thereof contacting and rotating a crank 140. This rotation frees a hammer 150 which strikes extension 164 of the arm 161 to cause the finger 163 to dislodge the striker 114 for firing the lamp 112. If however a used flash-lamp in the firing position, the sensing finger 163 will not be stopped by striker 114, thus further rotation of the lever 160 is possible. This brings flag 175 into viewfinder 105, and causes an arm 166 to move to the left and abut under a lug 126 to block the shutter release 120. Either the signalling linkage or the picture-taking control can be used independently. Alternatively Fig.11 (not shown), the spring (170') can be used to signal electrically the state of a lamp in the firing position. The signal flag 175 can be modified to appear in the viewfinder when an unused lamp is in the firing position. The lever 160 is prevented from operating if no flash unit is inserted. The hammer 150 is cocked during film advance by a cocking lever 209.